"The heavens are telling
of
the glory of God....
The Torah of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul....
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer"
(Ps 19:1[2], 7[8], 14 [15]).
When I first met my wife-to-be, it was love at first sight (for me that is). I tried, rather unsuccessfully, to make my feelings known to her by means of non-verbal communication. At some point, however, I realized I had to make my intentions clear by openly stating my desire for a more personal relationship. Much to my surprise, and with gratitude that has only grown over the years, she expressed a similar desire! Then the time came for me to put my money where my mouth is. I asked her to marry me and even had to pay her father a dowry to prove my intentions
(this is the custom in my wife's culture).
Psalm 19 tells a very similar story of God's pursuit of people whom he loves. Creation is God's non-verbal witness of how much he desires our affection (Oh the joys of sunsets, colored fish in the Red Sea, rainbows, puppies, flowers, etc.). In the Scriptures, God speaks to us directly, plainly, without hinting. He tells us his name (YHWH) and reveals his desire to have a relationship with us. But it doesn't stop there. He is willing to put his money where his mouth is by becoming our Redeemer. In Biblical Hebrew, "to redeem" means to "reclaim as one's own," "to buy back." Through creation, God hums his love for us. Through Scripture, God speaks his love for us.
Through the cross, God shouts his love for us! "He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love" (Song 2:4).